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Cavendish sets sights on Giro d´Italia

Mark Cavendish has confirmed that he will take part in the 2011 Giro d'Italia after missing the race last season.

Isle of Man-born Cavendish, a five-time stage winner and a team time trial winner at the Giro, missed the Grand Tour event in favour of the Tour of California in 2010.

But Cavendish, a resident of Tuscany for training purposes, has confirmed that he will be back among the field this year.

"I've had some great success in the Giro d'Italia before and other races in Italy, like Milan-Sanremo in 2009, and they're still some of my fondest memories," Cavendish said.

"So it's always great to go back and race there and that near my home at the Strade Bianche, then obviously Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo and then the Giro, which - if anybody's looked - it's a beautiful Giro this year."

Cavendish has endured a difficult season to date, with serious crashes in the Tour Down Under and the Tour of Qatar, and only one stage win in the Tour of Oman.

But the 25-year-old insists he remains undeterred ahead of the Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana and the World Championships in Copenhagen later this year.

"It hasn't knocked my confidence and my form is where I want it to be," he said.